Betsson AB asks European Union to re-examine Dutch gaming laws

Swedish online gambling operator Betsson AB has announced that it has written to the executive arm of the European Union asking it to re-open infringement proceedings against The Netherlands.

Stockholm-based Betsson AB is responsible for over 20 online gambling brands including the likes of NordicBet, Betsafe and CasinoEuro and its move follows a seemingly futile five-year wait for authorities in The Netherlands to bring their online gambling regulations into line with existing European Union guidelines.

“Betsson AB views the ongoing confusion in the Dutch market as unacceptable,” read a Friday statement from Ulrik Bengtsson, Chief Executive Officer and President for Betsson AB. “We have, therefore, submitted an official complaint to the European Commission. The current law in The Netherlands is not in line with European Union law and we have therefore asked the [European] Commission to re-open the infringement proceedings that were initiated against The Netherlands in 2006.”

The petition also follows the implementation last month of new rules in The Netherlands governing the licensing of online operators that want to offer games of chance to local players. These regulations stipulate, among other things, that firms are not permitted to advertise their services via radio, television or print media while any website, which is required to utilize the .com designation, must not be in the Dutch language.

“In the face of The Netherlands’ continued failure to implement a European Union compliant legal framework, Betsson AB must trust in the ability and authority of the European Commission to step in and take all action necessary to ensure that The Netherlands complies with its European Union treaty obligations,” read a statement from Betsson AB. “A compliant legal framework would remove the confusion and instability that the actions of the Dutch gaming authority, the Kansspelautoriteit, are creating for Dutch consumers at present. In addition, Betsson AB trusts the [European] Commission to ensure that the Kansspelautoriteit immediately refrains from continued enforcement of a law, which has already been the subject of infringement proceedings by the [European] Commission.”